Roll forming machine with work releasing mechanism



June 10, 1958 R. H. WEISNER ROLL FORMING MACHINE WITH WORK RELEASING MECHANISM Filed June 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 10, 1958 R. WEISNER ROLL FORMING MACHINE WITH WORK RELEASING MECHANISM Filed June 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR flWaii nw NW M ATTORNEY June 10, 1958 R. H. WEISNER 2,838,089

ROLL FORMING MACHINE WITH WORK RELEASING MECHANISM Filed June 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR WQZM 7/ /09 4 m ATTORNEY June 10, 1958 ROLL FORMING MACHINE WITH WORK RELEASING MECHANISM Filed June 24. 1954 R. H. WEISNER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Al/46W, smeme Luvs" 020M co/yrie.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY FORMING MACHINE wrrn woRK RELEASING MECHANISM Ralph H. Weisner, Greensboro, N. C., assignor to Wysong M s C mpa G e n r RQLL he in e ion re te to mpr e in l f ming machines, and particularly to machines of the type known as slip roll forming machines. Such machine generally comprises three power driven pyramidally artense r s. am l a. o t. r a t p roll. p r ablygeared together in a suitable manner so that sheets at metal will be pulled through the machine and formed in o c inde r n st sl p r 11 mach nes t e t p roll is. generally s pported at one end in a pivoted bracket which is called the drop end. Once a metal sheet is rolled to cylindrical or conical form it is necessary to remove the cylinder or cone from the'rolls, and from this operation the name slip roll is derived. In other words, it is necessary to slip the cylinder or cone toward the drop end to enable the operator to remove it from the machine.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved means for removing the rolled article. This is done in accordance with my invention by unlatching the drop end and pulling it away from its bearing socket. By means of a rod extending between this drop end and a pivoted housing member at the left or head end of the machine the top roll may be lifted at the right-hand end, enabling the operator to remove'the Work.

, further object of the. invention is to provide a machine capable of rolling articles, i. e. cylinders or cones, of various diameters. This is accomplished by adjustmer t of both the front and rear rolls.

Themachine may be driven by a conventional worm and gear drive through the top roll and the other two rolls driven by means of a train of gears. The front roll is adjustable from the front of the machine to accommqdate the various thicknesses of metal that may be passed through the machine. In accordance with my invention-the rear roll is also adjustable from the front 9f the machine and this adjustment is what enables the operator to control'the diameter of the cylinder. The rear roll is the one that actually requires frequent changing to allow the operator to change the diameter of the work being rolled and to enable him to havecontrol over the various types of metal. being rolled.

In accordance with my invention the adjustment of the rear roll is accomplished on these power slip roll forming machines through the use of pairs. of miter gears on the ends of the machine joining the rear roll adjustment screws with a horizontal shaft extending along the back of the machine parallel to the rolls. A hand-wheel shaft is located at a right angle to the horizontal shaft and goes through the machine to a handwheel located on the front ofthe machine. There is located on the horizontal shaft a coupling which enables the operator to parallel the rear roll with the top roll or to set it out of parallel, which would be required when rolling a cone.

Throughout the operation on this type of machine it is frequently necessary to reverse the direction of the rolls. Thisis accomplished by means of clutches or electrically by means of push buttons or a reversing drum roll 16.

' carried by the machine frame.

7 2,838,089 Patented June 10, 1958 control. Machines of this type are generally considered to be hazardous for the operator, and accordingly one of the objects of the invention is to reduce the hazards by providing means affording the operator closer control of.

the machine than has been possible heretofore.

My machine is of the type known as the initial pinch type, which has two front rolls approximately one over the other and the rear roll located to move in a plane angularly with reference to the top roll. The front rolls are adjusted to actually pinch the metal for starting and to act as a motivating power during the rolling operation. The rear roll is a bending roll, or radius roll as it is sometimes called. The position of the rear roll determines the diameter of the material to be rolled. The slip roll feature comes about by allowing a closed cylinder to be removed from the machine by dropping the right end hearing which is pivotable near the bottom of the machine and slipping the cylinder to the right and away from the top roll. Sometimes the operator fails to align the material when started into the machine and it becomes necessary to stop the machine instantly. Many times both hands are being used and it is very diflicult to reach a control switch. The use of a foot treadle tends to prevent damaged material, saves time, and in many cases eliminates a second man or helper. Safety laws in some states are rigid and this safety treadle contributes greatly toward the overall safety of the operator, and also time saving is a byproduct, so to speak, of its intended use. Personal danger is greatly minimized by use of the safety treadle.

In accordance with my invention I provide a foot treadle located on the front of the machine. Located on the foot treadle shaft is an actuating arm keyed to the foot treadle shaft which in turn moves with the shaft when the foot treadle is depressed. This in turn engages a micro-switch which breaks the circuit to the motor, thereby stopping the machine. When the circuit has been broken a reset button must be depressed before the motor can be started again.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and following detailed description in which a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an elevation from the head end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an elevation from the tail end of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the rolls indicating the formation of a cylinder thereon and showing diagram matically the gear connections between the various rolls;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the latching mechanism used in connection with the pivoted holding member for the top roll; and

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, 1d indicates generally the base of the machine which is provided with an upright frame member 11 at the left or head end of the machine, and with an upright frame member 12 at the right or tail end of the machine. A front plate 13 may be provided connecting the frame members.

Mounted on adjustable bearings between the upright frame members 11 and 12 are a front roll 14 and a rear End bearing blocks 13, 18 (Fig. 4) are provided for the front roll and are slidable in suitable end guides 29, 20 at opposite ends of the machine frame. Similarly the ends of the rear roll 15 are mounted in adjustable bearing blocks 22, 22 slidable in fixed guides 24, 24 The front roll 14 is aeaaoeo adapted to be adjusted by means of suitable end screws 26, 26 or the like engaging blocks 18, 18 and accessible. from the front of the machine, as is well known in the art, such screws being provided with knurled heads 28, 28.

In accordance with my invention the rear roll 16 is also adjustable from the front of the machine so that it is not necessary for the operator to leave his machine operating position for this purpose.

As shown, the bearing blocks 22, 22 for the ends of rear roll 16 are adjustable by means of end adjustment screws 30, 30 terminating in miter gears 32, 32 which engage similar gears 34, 34 carried by hearings in end brackets 36, 36 (Fig. 2) secured to the upright frame members 11 and 12 of the machine. The miter gears 34, 34 and 32, 32, together with screws 30, 30 are adapted to be actuated through a horizontal shaft 49 extending lengthwise along the rear of the machine and having a clutch or coupling 41 interposed therein so that the two screws 30, 30 may be actuated simultaneously when it is desired to form a cylinder, or independently when it is desired to form a cone. The shaft 40 is adapted to be actuated by means of a hand wheel 42 at the front of the machine in a position accessible to the operator, such hand wheel being keyed to a shaft 44 extending transversely of the machine and provided at its rear end with a bevel gear 46 engaging a mating bevel gear 48 on the shaft 40. Thus, by rotation of the hand wheel the rear roll 16 may be readily adjusted to various thicknesses of material to be rolled and also for rolling either a cylinder .or a cone, depending on whether or not both of the screws 30 are simultaneously actuated or only one such screw is actuated.

In addition to the front and rear rolls 1'4 and 16 the machine also includes a top roll 50, the ends of which are mounted in head and tail bearings 52 and 54 in head and tail housing or roll supporting or housing members 56 and 58, each of which is pivotally connected to the machine frame, the head member being pivoted at its upper end and the member 58 being pivoted at its lower end. As shown, the head member is provided at its upper end with a hinge 60 carried by bearings 61 at the top of the upright frame member 11, while the tail member or drop end bracket 58 is pivotally connected at its lower end as indicated at 62 between side walls or flanges 64 and 66 which may be termed drop end guides, these being carried by the upright frame member 12. A longitudinally extending rod 68 having adjustment means 69 connects the lower portion of the drop end bracket 58 at a point slightly above the hinge 62 with the free lower end of the left hand housing member 56, the rod 68 being provided with end connections 70 and 72 providing for pivotal movement. As will be noted, the connection 72 is located above the hinge 62 of the drop end bracket 58.

The drop end bracket is adapted to be latched in upright position by simple and effective means best shown in Figs. 1 and 6. As shown, a pivoted latch pawl member 80 is provided having a hinge shaft 82 extending between and rotatably mounted in drop end guides 64, 66 and having a limiting stop member or heel 81 adapted to engage the frame member 12. A latch handle 84 is provided at one end of the hinge shaft 82. There is also provided an adjustable stop 83. Extending through the front face of the drop end bracket 58 is an adjustable stud 86 held in place by lock nut 88 and having an enlarged head portion 90 with a beveled or cam surface 92 for engagement by the cam face 94 of the latch pawl member 31).

The latch automatically engages when the drop end is closed and may be opened by lifting the latch handle 84 and at the same time pulling back on the drop end bracket 58. The latch pawl 80 and handle 84 are keyed to the shaft, allowing the pawl to be separated from the stud when the handle is lifted. The contacting surface of the paw-1 and stud have a slight angle to 4. assure a positive lock, and facilitate free operation between the pawl and stud. The angle on the front end of this pawl and on the stud head permit automatic locking when the drop end is restored to its normal closed position.

It will be apparent that when the drop end bracket 58 is unlatched and pulled away from its bearing socket the rod 68 connecting the pivoted housing members 56 and 68 will be moved to the right, thereby moving housing member 56 about its hinge and lifting the right hand end of the top ro'll, allowing the operator to remove the rolled work which is indicated at W in Fig. 5, such work being either cylindrical or conical in form depending on the adjustment of the rear roll16.

The right hand end of the top roll is tapered. This taper fulfills a two-fold function in that it allows the drop end bearing to swing from its pivot in an arc without interference and centers the top roll in position. As has been previously pointed out the top roll is pivota-ble at its left end so that when the drop end bracket is lowered the top roll is elevated at its right end, giving clearance to remove the work W. The drop end bracket 58 is lowered on the completion of each article so that ready operation of the latch mechanism is an important item. The latch of the present invention will not bind because its travel is limited by the stops 81 and 83, both of which may be adjusted so that the socket portion of the drop end bracket stops on the tapered journal at exactly the position to prevent lost motion in the roll journal, and at the same time prevent the drop end from going so far as to lock on the taper of the top roll journal. During the upward travel of the drop end 58 the latch is cammed up and into position to drop behind the head '90 of the adjustable stud 86. As will be noted the back face of the stud is on a slight taper and matching this there is a corresponding taper on the latch. The tapered surfaces of these two pieces contribute to ease in releasing the latch prior to lowering the drop end. Thus, in accordance with my invention it is apparent that 'by merely lifting the latch handle the drop end bracket 58 can be lowered, causing the right end of the top roll to be raised, and by the automatic relatching after the cylinder has been removed and the drop end 58 raised to its closed position the machine is made ready for subsequent operations. Another feature of the latch is that it is completely adjustable to permit taking up of any slack or lost motion which may tend to develop after a period of time.

The machine may be operated by an electric motor 190 carried by bracket 191 secured to the pivoted head housing member 56. The motor 190 drives the pulley 192 through the belt 194, the pulley serving to drive the top roll 50 through conventional worm and gear mechanism, including worm 96 and gear 98, the other two rolls 14 and 16 being driven by means of a train of gears 99, 100, 101, 102, 103 and 104.

To reduce the hazards of operation a safety treadl is provided at the front of the machine within easy reach of the operator. As shown, the treadle 110 is mounted on a shaft 112 mounted in end bearings 114, 116 at the ends of the machine. Keyed to the shaft 112 is an actuating arm 118 which moves with the shaft when the treadle is depressed.

The arm 118 in turn engages a safety microswitch 120 which breaks the circuit to the motor 190, thereby stopping the machine. When the circuit has been broken a reset button 122 must be depressed before the motor can be started again. The electrical connection is diagrammatic ally shown in the wiring diagram in Fig. 7. As illustrated in the wiring diagram the electric motor receives energy from a three-phase line through a magnetic starter 124 and a drum type reversing switch 126 in series with the motor. The magnetic starter 124 is energized to con-. nect the motor to the line by means of a single phase current passing through an on-and-oif switch 127, the

safety microswitch 120 and a reset switch 128 in series with a starter actuating coil 130, the reset switch including the reset button 122. The sifety switch 120, normally in closed position, is opened when the safety treadle 110 is depressed, thereby breakingthe circuit to the starter actuating coil 130, which opens the motor circuit. When the circuit has been broken the reset button 122 must be depressed before the motor can again be started.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that numerous modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a slip roll forming machine having a frame comprising upright end plates and a front plate joining the two end plates, front and rear roll guides carried by said end plates, front and rear rolls adjustably mounted in said guides, head and tail pivoted end members carried by said frame, the head member being pivoted at its upper end to the upper end of one upright plate and the tail member being pivoted to the opposite end plate at its lower end, a top roll disposed above the front and rear rolls and having its ends supportably mounted in the upper ends of the pivoted members, one end of the top roll being axially fixed in the upper end of the head member, and the other end of such roll being slidably and detachably supported in the tail member, means operatively connecting the lower end of the head member to the lower end of the tail member at a point above the pivot of the latter, and power means for driving said rolls.

2. A slip roll forming machine as set forth in claim 1 having releasable latching means for retaining the tail member in closed position.

3. A slip roll forming machine as set forth in claim 2 having manual means accessible to the hand of an operator at the front of the machine for releasing the latching means.

4. A slip roll forming machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tail member is provided at its free upper end with a tapered journal bearing for the tail end of the top roll.

5. A slip roll forming machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tail end of the top roll is tapered and stop means are provided to prevent lost motion in the top roll journal and to prevent the tail member from locking on the taper of the top roll journal bearing.

6. In a slip roll forming machine having a frame com- 6 prising upright end plates and a front plate joining the two end plates, front and rear roll guides carried by said end plates, front and rear rolls adjustably mounted in said guides, head and tail pivoted end members carried by said frame, the head member being pivoted at its upper end to the upper end of one upright plate and the tail member being pivoted to the opposite end plate at its lower end, a top roll disposed above the front and rear rolls and having its ends supportably mounted in the upper ends of the pivoted members, one end of the top roll being axially fixed in the upper end of the head member, and the other end of such roll being slidably and detachably supported in the tail .member, means operatively connecting the lower end of the head member to the lower end of the tail member at a point above the pivot of the latter, means accessible from the front of the machine for adjusting the front and the rear roll in said guides to permit rolling articles of various diameters, and power means for driving said rolls.

7. In a slip roll forming machine, the combination of a frame including first and second upstanding end plates, front and rear rolls extending between and rotatably mounted in said end plates, an elongated head member pivoted at its upper end to the upper end of the first end plate, an elongated tail member pivoted at its lower end to the lower end of the second end plate, a top roll having one end portion thereof rotatably supported and axially fixed in the upper end of said head member and having its other end portion rotatably and removably supported in the upper end of said tail member, means operatively connecting the lower end of the head member to the lower end of the tail memberat a point above the pivot of the latter, whereby said top roll may be swung upwardly by the head member when the tail member is swung out of its supporting engagement with said other end portion of the top roll, and means for rotating said rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 877,038 Bertsch Jan. 21, 1908 1,438,058 Platt Dec. 5, 1922 1,590,491 Beall June 29, 1926 2,106,534 Parcells Jan. 25, 1938 2,450,041 Grooves Sept. 28, 1948 2,660,214 Tinley et a1 Nov. 24, 1953 

